Cape Verdean Cardinal urges strong family ties

Cardinal Arlindo Gomes Furtado of Cabo Verde Cardinal Arlindo Gomes Furtado of Cabo Verde

Cardinal Arlindo Furtado, the Cape Verdean Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Santiago de Cabo Verde has criticized the tendency towards individualism emphasizing that the family is the place where we begin to receive and also learn to give.

Radio Nova - Cidade da Praia, Cabo Verde. In the family, we learn to receive and give.

Cardinal Arlindo Furtado, speaking recently in his Diocese of Santiago de Cabo Verde, said the family was the place where we all learn to receive and learn to give.

Echoing a theme popular with Pope Francis, who has often referred to the Church as the true domestic Church, the Cape Verdean Cardinal praised diocesan pastoral efforts aimed at strengthening family bonds.  The family, he said is vital for building the Church of the future.

Helping families achieve quality lives

The Diocese of Santiago de Cabo Verde, recently, dedicated three days to family seminars where marriage counselling, training in family life and therapy were emphasised.  The Seminars were also aimed at boosting the quality of training for marriage counsellors. The overall goal was to help families achieve viable, quality family relationships.

Family as the foundation for faith and friendship

Cardinal Furtado assured that the diocesan seminars would continue and in future aim to include, young people so that Cape Verdean families would become sources and the foundation for constructing faith, real peace, friendship and fraternity.